And this image shows the new radome

Tejas twin seater during its recent trials in Rajasthan

LCA hangar

The main reason for most of problem of Tejas MK1 is its over weight. If HAL can trim its empty weight from 6.5 tons to 5.5 tons as they promised when proposed the Tejas MK1A, everything else should be fine.

So then, the Gripen C, the JF-17 and the KAI T-50 are all also overweight. Since they all weigh in around 6600 kgs.

Lol I was referring to fighters of the same class, single engined F-16, Gripen, J-10C. But if you think it belongs with JF-17 than that’s your inferiority complex. Maybe we really give LCA more credit than it deserves!

So even you yourself don’t regard the LCA as in the same “class” as the JF-17? 😀

Even though theoretically they are both light fighters in the same weight category. the F-16 and J-10 are much heavier and only a moron would class them together. Obviously the PAF doesn’t think that way either, otherwise they wouldn’t be scouting for F-16s from anywhere when they have a line for the JF-17s delivering so many per year.

It is correct that the Swedish pilots are very happy with the Gripen C performance today, in particular in a2a, but also for some other missions. The main limitations are related to its small size, which gives it a smaller range and less carrying capacity, in particular compared to Rafale, Typhoon, the SH and the Hornet.

Edit: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?137530-SAAB-Gripen-and-Gripen-NG-thread-4&p=2301484#post2301484

It did very well against the Typhoon when they tested the HMD in combo with IRIS-T:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?137530-SAAB-Gripen-and-Gripen-NG-thread-4&p=2301567#post2301567

So if Swedish pilots are happy, we are supposed to believe it, but when IAF test and squadron pilots are happy with the Tejas, their testimonial should count as well, shouldn’t it?

Feel free to watch this program on NDTV, where Air Cmde. Muthanna voices his opinion on the Tejas

And HAL is scaling up production to 16 Tejas fighters per year from 8 per year as set up for now. They’re actively encouraging private sector companies to take up more of the production work. Wing work is given to L&T, Center fuselage contracted to Wem Technologies, etc. And they’re looking to build more, as the MD Suvarna Raju said, “it could be 16+”.

India has to accept that their first modern fighter (LCA) will be inferior in comparison with fighters of a similar class for at least a generation. When their industry is mature enough surely they can produce world class products. For the time being they need to bite the bullet and carry on with LCA MK1/MK2/MK3 etc

Inferior to what? The JF-17? You have got to be kidding us!

You can continue to call it inferior or whatever on the internet, won’t make a whit of a difference in the real world, where as Air Cmde Muthanna, Chief Test Pilot, HAL, says in a recent program on NDTV, in response to being asked how the Tejas flies-

“The control law is purely Indian engineering and it is world class. Anybody who flies this aircraft, there are about 22 of us, 20 odd test pilots and now the squadron pilots have started flying this aircraft and everybody will vouch that she flies beautifully. And when we achieve the Final Operating Clearance, she will have absolutely carefree maneuvering which fundamentally means you cannot take this aircraft, this aircraft will not go out of control.”

And Air Cmde Muthanna is a man who calls the Su-30MKI “his baby”, one of the original Su-30MKI project test pilots of the IAF, who was deputed to Moscow, so he knows what the state of the art is. You can peddle BS on this forum or wherever, but it is the opinion of men like him that counts, men who are associated with the program and with the IAF and HAL, not some random internet warrior.

When he says things like this, his words carry weight. Because he knows exactly what both aircraft are capable of. You and some others, like the Gripen fanboys, peddle your agenda here.

Air Cmde. Muthanna-
“I have no hesitation in saying that in capabilities, the Tejas is a mini-Sukhoi”

This is state of the art. With an Elta 2032 as of now (and moving on to Elta 2052 soon) and with Derby/Python V/ Astra/ R-73E and with LGBs and Litening 4 and with DASH HMDS and full HOTAS controls AND with proven SWING Role capability (as demonstrated in IAF exercise Iron Fist) where the Tejas switched from dropping a LGB to firing off an R-73E within 60 odd seconds, those who aren’t pushing an agenda (as you are) know what this platform is and what it is capable of.

ADA is currently optimizing the lift/AoA regime even further as per a recent interview program. Max 26-28 deg AoA.

The biggest issue of 40 upgraded Mig-27MLs is their thirty & troublesome engine. Therefore re-engine them with new one like AL-31F will make them beeing on par with upgraded & re-engined Jacguard.

There is no future for the MiG-27UPG or the earlier non-upgraded variants in the IAF. The plan to re-engine them was abandoned a long time ago.